What Is This?

[ICEEGRL]

Ok... it is my mollies again... and again... I just have no luck at all with them!
I have the one that just got over popeye and won't poop... (the small white one)
I thought the other 2 were preg. They are very fat! Problem... I have noticed very small, short, thin thread looking stuff on or just under their skin. At first I thought it was just part of their color that I had not noticed before, but it is spreading. Could this be a parasite? I heard that snails can cause parasites and illnesses to be worse. Is that true? I am beginning to believe it. I have had tons of problems since the snails showed up.
I don't think my mollies are preg., and in the white one it looks like black streaks all in her stomach. I am now afraid they are full of worms or something. They are both very very fat. They look like they are about to pop. The scales are still flat though. They are feeding well, and fins are not clamped. There is no flashing, scratching, hiding, etc... The only thing I have noticed is they spend more time by the heater. The one that won't poop that just lays around stays by the heater all the time. I had the temp at 76 until she got sick. I started checking and most articles said 78 to 84 and they don't like to be cold. After reading that I slowly brought the temp up to 80. Even at this temp she is still staying by the heater all the time unless feeding time. The other two just hang out by it for a little while off and on. Are they still cold?
What might be going on, and what are the black things? It doesn't show up clearly in pics. I tried earlier, but will try again later. It may be a problem with my photography (lacking) skills. Any info would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks

 

[The-Wolf]

the only thing i can think of is a bacterial skin infection.
try a course of melafix to see if this clears up.

 

[ICEEGRL]

I treated with melafix and pimafix to get rid of the popeye. That didn't do anything for this.
Here are a bunch of pics. I thought if I put enough on here maybe you could figure it out. It is hard to see.
There are 5 mollies in there. 1 white adult female-- very fat with black stuff all over, black in belly, and a crusty head.
1white adult female(same age)-- that is very small that had popeye and is now constipated.(she has gotten alot smaller than she was)
1 light grey adult female-- very fat, has faint black things, and crusty stuff. By the way, this one was dark grey when I got her.
1 orange juvenile female-- very fat with a few black things
1 multi color juvenile male-- with some black things

Please look over these pics and see if you see what I see, and let me know if you see anything I missed. I need to know what the problem or problems are and how to treat it.
Also can you tell if they are pregnant, swollen, or full of parasites?

I did say a bunch of pics! Sorry! Just trying to be sure you have enough to tell what is going on.
water stats are messed up too for some reason. This started last night.
Just tested...
ammonia- .13
nitrates- 30
nitrites- 3.0
gh- very hard
kh- 180
ph- 7.8
I am about to do a water change! Nothing new or different except more #### snails and eggs. I can't get rid of them.
Please help if you can!
Thank You very very much!!!

 

[Tolak]

Have you tried epsom salt for the constipation issues? I've used it with a variety of fish to aid constipation, it cleans them right out. Start with 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons, add 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons daily for a few days for a maximum of 3 teaspoons per 10 gallons. Don't feed for a few days as well.

The black thread like objects sound like some sort of parasite or flukes. Copper sulfate is a good medication for this but will also kill any invertebrates in the tank, like snails. Your water is hard enough to use copper safely, you have to be careful of any algae eating fish such as plecs, as copper tends to concentrate in algae. Mardel Coppersafe is a good product, and can be used along with the epsom salt.

With those water test results I would be doing daily water changes until the water test results are back to normal. I suspect that there may have been an increase in the additives the water company put in your water, double dosing with a good water treatment such as Prime can't hurt, I do it a lot in the winter.

 

[ICEEGRL]

I have used prime ever since you first told me about it a few months back. I had the same problem then with the water. Should I just keep doing double dose all the time since I never know when they are going to add to the water?

I added epsom salt last night(1 teaspoon). They are in the 10g sick tank. The light grey molly went nuts. I thought she was going to have a stroke. I waited 30 minutes, and she never settled any so I did a water change. That calmed her some. Is that normal?

Do you think they are pregnant or are they about to burst from parasites?

Is my water temp ok at 80? If not what should it be?

I will try to find some coppersafe. The only inverts are the snails, and I would love to see them go!

Thank you for helping. I know I have been alot of bother with these mollies. I am trying very hard to learn though. It is to the point that I am almost ashamed to ask anymore. I don't like to appear stupid, but I like dead fish even less.

If I can get them well I think I will look for them a better home. I do not seem to be good for their health.

Thanks again!

 

[helterskelter]

ye your ammonia and nitrites should be 0 so defo water changes, and active carbon in the filter will help to remove that problem as well.

Snails do carry desiease, but 90% of the common problems need birds as well to complete the nateral cycle, so nothing to worry about rearly.

I've had a look at the photo's and cant see anything worng sorry, can u highlige the area on a pic so i know where to look, or get a better pic so we can clearly see the problem.

Helter

 

[Miss Wiggle]

are you keeping the tank freshwater or slightly brackish. this is exactly why mollies should be kept in brackish conditions, in fresh water they will get every illness and infection going

 

[ICEEGRL]

I use instant ocean sea salt and had a 1.008. I have lowered it to 1.005 now.
I did the water change and added diamond blend. My levels are good again. I got a better look this morning. I do have an external parasite(black things). I know this because they move!
The really big white one is about 50+ fry lighter too! Now I need another tank! I have added some plastic plants for the other molly that may also be about to drop, and my double size baby net for the fry. I put the sponge filter back on the intake as to not suck up the fry that I didn't catch.
I am going to get ready now so I can go to Arkansas to see about getting another tank for the fry. They have to come out of the other tank so I can treat them for the parasites.(it is also in their gills)
The constipated one still hasn't gone. I have put her in salt bath twice now. I don't think she is going to make it. She quit eating again.
I will check in when I get back this evening.
Thanks Loads!